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regional partners to strengthen arms control measures, enhance border security, and disrupt the illicit trafficking networks that fuel terrorism and organized crime.

In closing, let me state that we must make this meeting historic and productive.

We must show our respective populations that we, as leaders, we must do more than speak nice words, we must leave here with real results.

As leaders, let us show our people that their safety and welfare is paramount. May this conference be succinct and to the point. Let us keep rhetoric to a minimum.

Let us be focused and dedicated to pinpointing and embarking on the meaningful and strong action needed to win the day and free our continent of violent extremists.

May we do everything that is required of us to defeat this challenge so that five, ten or twenty years from now it is historians who will be meeting to discuss how today became a major turning point in the African continent’s defeat of the terrorist scourge.

Once again, I thank you for honouring my invitation. I urge you to work hard but to also enjoy the hospitality beauty of Abuja, our capital city.

May God bless our endeavours here today.

*Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander in Chief of the of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria delivered this opening speech at the African High-Level Meeting oOn Counter-Terrorism on 22nd – 23rd April 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria